Mattress and receptacle adjuster



Oct. 3, 1944. H. l... CHAPMAN MATTRESS AND RECEPTACLE ADJUSTOR s sheets-sheet 1 Filed April 15. 1941 HAROLD L. CHAPMAN;

Oct. 3, 1944. H. l.. CHAPMAN MATTRESS AND RECEPTACLE ADJUSTOR Filed Arl 15, 194].A 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 31u/UWM HA zow' L .Cf/APMM,

Oct. 3, 1944.

H. L.. CHAPMAN MATTRESS vAND RECEPTACLE ADJ'USTOR r11A 15,` 1941 3' sheds-sheet 5 Y Syvum/VTM HARO/ D LZCHAPMAN, 1

Filed Ap Patented Oct. 3, 1944 UNITED. STATES PATENT orrlcg MATTRESS AND RECEPTACLE ADJUSTER Harold Lloyd Chapman, East Moriches, N. Y.

Application April 15, 1941, Serial No. 388,701

5 Claims.

This invention relates to beds and more particularly to an apparatus for adjusting mattresses.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for selectively adjusting the position of the mattress to afford a predetermined posture for the occupant of the bed.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device with means for adjustably positioning a receptacle in the bed.

Further and more specific objects will plainly appear from the detailed specification andvdraw.- ings presented herewith in exemplication vand not in limitation of the invention.

Like reference characters represent like membersvin the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the apparatus attached to the side rails of a bed or a bed spring;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a detail of the end bearing and crank positioned on the right hand side of the bed when viewed from the foot of the bed as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the left hand side of the bed shown in Fig. l with the apparatus in its flat position;

Fig. 4 is a like View ofthe apparatus in its elevating position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective fragmentary view of a preferred means for slidably attaching the receptacle to the apparatus; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred means for supporting the apparatus independently of the bed.

The apparatus shown in Fig. 1 comprises a mattress elevating member I positioned beneath the mattress I and a mattress depressing member I9 overlying the topfof the mattress I5. The elevating member Il! is provided with two parallel crank arms II joining the shafts 20 which are carried by the journal members I2 in the bearings I3 affixed by attaching means I5 to the railsl I4. The rails I4 may be the side rails of the'bed or of the spring frame. One end of the shaft 2!) is provided with a crank arm I5 aflixed thereto at I1. When the apparatus is in its at position as shown in Fig. 3, the arm I6 is substantially parallel to the rail I4 as shown in Fig. 2. To the other end 0f the shaft 20 is affixed thelever 25 which has an extension 26 of approximately the same length or throw as the arm I6. Resilient means such as relatively stiff springs are shown at I8 releasably connecting the outer end of the arms I6 and 25 with the ends of the depression member I9. The depression member I9 may be provided with a guide 2l having a longitudinal guideway 22 adapted to rotatably, slidably and removably engage a rod 32 aixed to the receptacle or bed pan 3l. The lever 25 is provided with a spring detent 21 adapted to engage a series of apertures 29 in the quadrant 28. 'The elevating member I0 may be preferably provided with a pressure distributing plate 23 adapted to be detachably, adjustably and rotatably positioned to support the small of the Iback of the patient or occupant of the bed. The

plate 23 is held on the elevating member I0 by means such as the spring clips 24.

In operation, the apparatus may be permanently or detachably aixed to the rails I4 of I0 remaining in a flat position beneath the mattress I5 and with the lever 25 in its flat position substantially parallel to the rails I4. When it is desiredto adjust the mattress I5 the removable depression member I9 is axed in its coacting position on top of the mattress I5 by means of releasable connections with the springs I8.

Thereafter the crank 25 may be moved upwardly until the detent 21 positions it at the elevation desired. As the crank 25 moves upwardly the elevating member I0 raises the underside of the mattress I-5 at an area or portion approximately beneath the small of the back of the occupant of the bed and atthe same time the depression so that the mattress I5 assumes in profile a concurrently elevated and depressed position which permits the patient to assume the posture most 5 comfortable and most convenient for the use of the receptacle or pan 3|. Thereafter the pan SI may be slidably removed from the guideway 22 and the depression member I9 likewise detached and removed and the lever 25 depressed to its horizontal position which will permit the mattress I5 to resume its normal flat position. When the lever 25 is in this flat position the detent 21 in place when the pan 3l is not in use.

The "novel apparatus herein described may be incorporated in a household bed or in a hospital bed of any type either with or without the adthe bed or bed springs with the elevation member member I9 depresses the portion of the mattress I5 approximately below the waist of the occupant justable or foldable bed spring or bed frame members and it also may be used with equal advantage with or Without the pan. When used Without the pan it may also be advantageously employed as a means for providing a reading or eating posture for bedridden patients throughout the day.

A preferred means for supporting the apparatus in its operating position independently of any attachment directly to Ythe bed is shown in Fig. 6, which discloses a preferred support or stand 45. The stand 45 may preferably comprise tubular leg members 39 joined by a cross brace 40 at their lower ends and supporting at their upper ends the bracket 36. The brace 40 may preferably be joined with a like brace member 42 on the opposite legs of the stand by means of the rod 44. each of the foot members 46 which are adapted to separably engage the leg members 4| to which are allixed at their upper ends the bracket 4T. To the bracket 41 is afiixed journal bearing 31 which carries rotatable shaft 38 having at one end a clutch member 39, and tothe other end is aiiixed the arm I6.

To the bracket 36 is affixed the quadrant 28 and the journal member 48, which carries the rotatable shaft member 35. the shaft member 35 is aixed the clutch member 34. Y

Inthis'modication of the invention, each end ofthe shaft 20 has affixed thereto a clutch mem- 1 ber shown at 33 and 49 adapted to interfit the clutch members 34 and 39. A

In operation, the preferred supporting means just described may be conveniently used to operate thev novel apparatus herein described independently of any attaching means tothe bed in the following manner:

When the leg members 4| are disconnected from the foot members 46, by means of the stud and socket joint 43 the stand 45 may be placed in position with the legs 39 and the foot members 46 on opposite sidesof the bed with the brace member 44 extending under the bed.

Next, the shaft 20 may be engaged by means of the clutch members 34, 39, 33 and 49 so that the plate 23 is positioned beneath the mattress. Thereafter the legs 4| may be inserted in the foot members 46. The apparatus is now in position to have the depression member |9 attached to the arms I6 and 26 by `means ofthe springs I8 in a manner previously described herein.

TheV present invention'of course contemplates that thelever member 25 in all embodiments of the invention may be positioned on either side of the bedthat may be convenient to the user. The legs 39 and 4| may be provided with floor gripping means 50 in the form of rubber grips whichl may be made removable and interchangeable with the usual casters that may be substituted for Ythe rubber grips when the apparatus is not in use on a mattress. Y

The present invention contemplates all modications and equivalents within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. For use With a bed having side rails supporting Va mattress, mattress adjusting apparatus detachably secured to said bed, said apparatus comprising a mattress elevating member positioned beneath said mattress, a mattress depressing member overlying said mattress, said' elevat- To the other end of The brace member 42 connects` Y means operatively connecting said members in i ing means being Ypositioned to elevate that portion of the mattress approximately beneath the small of the back of the occupant of the bed, said depressing means being positioned to depressthat portion of the mattress approximately below the waist of the occupant, means for slidably and removably adjusting a receptacle along said depressing means, means releasably and detachably connecting said elevating means and said depressing means, and means for concurrently operating said elevating means and said depressing means.

2. Apparatus of the class specied comprising in combination with a bed having bed springs and a mattress thereon, an elevating member adapted to extend transversely across the bed beneath the mattress and between the latter and the bed springs, a depressing member adapted to extend transversely across the upper side of the mattress, means connecting said members in spaced relation longitudinally of the mattress, means for actuating said members substantially simultaneously to raise said elevating 'member and lower said depressing member to thereby raise the upper portion of the mattress while maintaining the lower portion thereof below said depressing member in a substantially normal or horizontal plane, and releasable meansv adapted to hold said members in selected elevated and depressed positions.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said elevating member is in the form of a rod having a centrally positioned back plate attached thereto serving to distribute thepressure of the rod over a greater area with respect to the mattress.

4.Y Apparatus of the class specified comprising in combination with a bed having bed springs and a mattress thereon, an elevating member adapted to extend transversely across the bed between the mattress and bed springs,'a depressing said members in a selected elevated ordepressed position, and means for adjustably and removably positioning a receptacle on said depressing member.

5. Apparatus of the class specied comprising,

in vcombination with a *bedl having a bed spring and a mattress thereon, a mattress lelevating member adapted to extend transversely across the bed between the mattress and bed'spring, a depressing member adapted to extend transversely across the upper side of the Vmattress and in spaced relation longitudinally of the latter with respect to said elevating member, actuating spaced relation longitudinally of the mattress and adapted to elevate said elevating lmember and depress said depressing member, releasing means for holding said members in a selected elevated or depressed position, said actuating means including a'resilient connection with said depressing member whereby the latter is held in its depressed position under tension.

HAROLD LLOYD CHAPMAN. 

